Dampening systems having a dampening agent feeding and return device

ABSTRACT

A dampening system has at least one dampening ductor or roller; a dampening agent bin or trough, which holds a dampening agent, a feeding device, and a return device. The feeding device includes at least one dampening agent distributing pipe that has a number of spaced openings. A number of these dampening agent distributing pipes are assigned to the dampening ductor or roller.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is the U.S. national phase, under 35 USC 371, ofPCT/DE03/01330, filed Apr. 24, 2003; published as WO 03/097359 A1 onNov. 27, 2003 and claiming priority to DE 102 22 294, filed May 18,2002, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to dampening systems with devices forthe inflow and for the return flow of a dampening agent. The dampeningsystem includes at least one dampening ductor, a dampening agent tank,an inflow device and a return flow device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dampening systems are used in offset printing presses and in otherprinting systems. A dampening system consists of, for example, adampening ductor, which may also be called a water tank roller, adampening agent tank, and devices for supplying and returning dampeningagent to and from the dampening agent tank. The dampening ductor orroller is typically partially immersed in the dampening agent containedin the dampening agent tank, picks up the dampening agent by a rotatingmovement, and transfers the dampening agent to further rollers of theprinting group. To prevent interferences with the printing operation, itis important that the dampening agent taken up by the dampening ductoror roller has identical physical and chemical properties over the entirelength of the roller.

A dampening system in an offset printing press is described in DE 198 53362 C1. A supply system for dampening agent, which has a plurality ofspray nozzles over the roller length, is assigned to the dampeningductor in the axial direction of the ductor.

A dampening system is known from DE 196 16 198 A1, which system has atleast one dampening agent pickup roller. A dampening agent supply lineis arranged above the dampening agent pickup roller, parallel with thisroller, and extends over the roller's full length. On its underside, thesupply line is provided with outlet openings, by the use of which awater curtain is formed when the supply line is charged with dampeningagent.

For use in removing deposits, such as ink particles, for example, from adampening ductor or roller, DD 247 414 A1 proposes to press a strippingelement against the surface of the roller with a pressure which is equalover the entire length of the roller.

A dampening agent recirculating system for offset printing presses isdescribed in EP 0 638 417 A1. In this case, a dampening agent supplyline, with hole-shaped cutouts, and a dampening agent catch rod, whichis situated at a defined small distance from the dampening ductor, arepositioned parallel to the dampening ductor or roller.

DE 94 20 343 U1 shows a dampening system, whose dampening agent tank hasan inflow line with several openings. A return conduit, having a weir,extends over the entire length of the dampening agent tank.

DE 199 09 262 A1 describes a dampening agent tank with a dam forlimiting the return flow of the dampening agent. A filter has beeninstalled between this dam and a return flow line.

DE 38 31 741 A1 discloses a dampening agent tank with several inflowlines and with several return flow lines.

DE 17 61 908 A discloses an adjustable dampening supply device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is directed to providing dampeningsystems with dampening agent inflow and return flow devices.

In accordance with the present invention, the object is attained by theprovision of a dampening system having at least one dampening fluidductor or roller, a dampening agent tank, an inflow device and a returnflow device. The inflow device has several distributing tubes, eachtypically with several openings, that are assigned to the ductor. Atleast one inflow line of the distributing tube is arranged between lastopenings of first and second ends of the distributing tube. The returnflow device has a collecting tank that is connected with the dampeningagent tank, which collecting tank extends in the longitudinal directionof the ductor and is double walled.

The advantages to be gained by the present invention consist, inparticular, in that the dampening ductor or roller is arranged in thedampening agent tank between the inflow device and the return flowdevice for the dampening agent. The inflow device and the return flowdevice are configured in such a way that the inflow and the return flowof the dampening agent in the area of the dampening ductor are bothdistributed to several locations. In the course of conducting new orfresh dampening agent from a dampening agent reservoir to the dampeningagent tank, uneven intermixing of newly supplied dampening agent withdampening agent already present in the dampening agent tank can occur atsome locations in the dampening agent tank. Areas of the dampening agenttank, in which little intermixing takes place, can heat up and can havea temperature which is higher, by up to 10° C., in comparison with areasof the dampening agent tank in which a constant exchange between newlysupplied dampening agent with the dampening agent already present in thedampening agent tank takes place. Since the viscosity of the dampeningagent depends greatly on the temperature of the dampening agent, andsince the print quality, in turn, depends greatly on the viscosity ofthe dampening agent, the dampening agent taken up from the tank by thedampening ductor must be substantially at the same temperature levelover the entire length of the dampening ductor.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a dampening systemwherein a uniform exchange of dampening agent takes place substantiallyover the entire length of the area of the dampening ductor.

This objective is achieved in accordance with the present inventionbecause several locations for the inflow of dampening agent, calleddampening agent inflow locations, are assigned to the front of thedampening ductor, and several locations for the return of dampeningagent, called dampening agent return flow locations, are assigned to therear of the dampening ductor. Thus, the dampening ductor is located inthe area of a flow of dampening agent which is formed by both the inflowand the return flow of the dampening agent into or out of the dampeningagent tank. The locations for the inflow and for the return flow arematched to each other in such a way that a uniform intermixing of newlysupplied dampening agent with that already present in the dampeningagent tank takes place in the area of the dampening ductor and over itsentire roller length. In this way, it is possible, for example, to matchthe spatial arrangement of the inflow and return flow locations among orbetween each other.

A further possibility resides in the configuration of the inflow and ofthe return flow locations themselves, such as, for example, theirgeometry, shape and/or diameter. It would also be possible to causeuniform intermixing by a suitable distribution of the charging pressureat the dampening agent inflow locations. In actual use, a combination ofthese various possibilities will result, wherein the actualconfiguration will have to be determined by empirical tests. Inconnection with the principle of uniform intermixing of dampening agent,such as water, in the area of the dampening doctor blade over its entirelength, it is important that, on the one hand, that dampening agent issupplied at several locations in the area of the dampening ductor and,on the other hand, dampening agent is returned at several locations inthe area of the dampening doctor blade in order to assure a continuousexchange of dampening agent in the area of the dampening ductor.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thedampening agent inflow device is arranged at the dampening agent tank asa separate component. This is of particular advantage if the inflowdevice must periodically be disassembled, for example because it hasbecome damaged or dirty. In the present case, it is then possible toremove the inflow device, embodied as a separate component, in a simpleand cost-effective manner from the dampening agent tank. Thus, a morecost-intensive disassembly of the entire dampening agent tank is notnecessary.

The dampening agent inflow line is attached substantially at the centerof the inflow device. This has the advantage that, following thecharging of the inflow line with dampening agent, an almost identicaldampening agent pressure prevails at all of the dampening agent inflowlocations of the inflow device. In this way, a pressure drop, as is thecase when the inflow line is located on one side of the inflow device,is clearly reduced.

To minimize interference effects of the dampening agent flow in thedampening agent tank, it would be sensible to arrange the tubes of thedampening agent inflow line at the side of the dampening agent tank. Atthe same time, it is conceivable to use the inflow line as a support forthe inflow device. This allows a simple and a cost-effectiveconfiguration of the inflow line and the inflow device.

It is of no importance, for the principle of the invention, in which waythe inflow device is configured. It is thus possible, for example, toconfigure the inflow device as a hollow conductor, such as a round tube,for example.

To provide dampening agent to the dampening agent tank, uniformlydistributed over the entire length of the dampening ductor, it ispractical for the dampening agent inflow locations, which are embodiedas either circular or rectangular cutouts, to be arranged over theentire length of the hollow conductor and to be evenly spaced apart fromeach other. A further possibility lies in providing a rectangular cutoutfor the passage of the dampening agent in the hollow conductor, whichrectangular cutout extends substantially over the entire length of thehollow conductor.

In connection with dampening ductors of great length it is not aspossible to provide a uniform pressure at all of the dampening agentinflow locations available, even with a central inflow of the dampeningagent into the inflow device, which is embodied as a hollow conductor.In this case, it would be sensible for the inflow device to consist ofat least two hollow conductors, which are arranged one behind the otherin the longitudinal direction. Each one of these hollow conductors maybe separately provided with dampening agent by the use of an inflow lineand wherein the two hollow conductors are functionally separated fromeach other.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment, the return flowdevice consists of at least two cutouts which are arranged in the bottomof the dampening agent tank, and through which the dampening agent canbe returned from the dampening agent tank to the dampening agentreservoir. To achieve a uniform removal of the dampening agent from thedampening agent tank it would furthermore be appropriate to arrange thecutouts so that they are parallel with respect to the longitudinal axisof the dampening ductor. A return flow device configured in this way canbe accomplished in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner.

It is particularly advantageous, in accordance with the presentinvention, if the return flow device has a comb-shaped component whichis arranged upstream of the cutouts in the bottom of the dampening agenttank. The comb shape of the component is constituted by alternatingareas of tooth-shaped elevations and indentations, wherein a cutout inthe bottom of the dampening agent tank is assigned to each indentationarea. The comb-shaped component is arranged parallel with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the dampening ductor. The comb-shaped componentextends over the entire length of the dampening doctor blade, and thetooth-shaped elevations point vertically upward. A type of increase ofthe cross section of this area is accomplished by the provision of theindentations, because of which increase the dampening agent canpreferably flow into the cutouts arranged downstream of the indentationsand is removed in this way, from the dampening doctor blade over theentire length of the latter.

Due to the large temperature difference between the dampening agent andthe ambient air it would be prudent to configure the lines for theinflow and for the return flow of the dampening agent into or out of thedampening agent reservoir to be double-walled to achieve some sort ofthermal disconnection between the lines conducting dampening agent andthe ambient air. Without a thermal disconnection, any moisture containedin the air can condense on the lines charged with dampening agent. Dropsof condensate are formed, which drops can settle, for example, in thearea of the printing group and/or onto the web of material to beimprinted, which drops can also lead to interference with the printingoperation.

The hollow space of the double-walled inflow and return flow lines isfilled with an insulative foam.

To match the temperature of the new dampening agent supplied from thedampening agent reservoir, in particular in such a way that thedampening agent received on the dampening doctor blade over its entirelength has substantially the same temperature, it would be beneficialfor a temperature measuring device to be provided in the area of thedampening agent doctor blade in at least two locations. The temperaturemeasuring device can be coupled with a control and/or with a regulatingdevice, by the use of which, the temperature of the supplied dampeningagent is regulated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are represented in thedrawings and will be described in what follows.

Shown are in:

FIG. 1, a side elevation view, partly in cross-section, of a preferredembodiment of a dampening system with a dampening agent tank, adampening ductor and devices for the inflow and return flow of dampeningagent in accordance with the present invention, in

FIG. 2, a front view, partly in cross-section, of a first preferredembodiment of a dampening system in accordance with FIG. 1 and taken inthe sectional direction A shown in FIG. 1, and without the comb-shapedcomponent, in

FIG. 3, a front view, partly in cross-section of a dampening system inaccordance with FIG. 1 in the sectional direction B shown in FIG. 1 andwithout the dampening ductor, and in

FIG. 4. a front view, partly in cross-section of a second preferredembodiment of a dampening system in accordance with the presentinvention, also taken in the sectional direction as shown in FIG. 1 andwithout the comb-shaped component.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A dampening system in accordance with the present invention, withdevices for accomplishing the inflow and the return flow of a dampeningagent 01 into or out of a dampening agent tank 02, is represented inFIG. 1. A dampening ductor or roller 03 is attached between an inflowdevice 04, as seen in FIG. 2, and a return flow device 06. The inflowdevice 04 is arranged opposite the front side of the dampening ductor03.

For improved understanding it should be pointed out at this juncturethat the inflow device 04 consists of at least one distributing tube 18with several openings 07. This is shown most clearly in FIG. 2 and alsoin FIG. 4 which shows two such distributing tubes 18, each with severalopenings 07.

In the present preferred embodiment, each distributing tube 18 isprovided as a separate component in the dampening agent tank 02, asrepresented in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 4, and is preferably substantiallylocated completely below the liquid level of the dampening agent 01.Moreover, each distributing tube 18 is embodied as a hollow conductor 18in the form of a round tube 18 and has an interior tube diameter ofapproximately 10 mm to 20 mm, and in particular has a diameter of 12 mm.A longitudinal axis of each distributing tube 18 extends parallel with alongitudinal axis of the dampening ductor 03. The length of thedistributing tube or the distributing tubes 18 extends substantiallyover the length of the dampening ductor 03.

As can also be seen by referring to FIG. 2, the dampening agent inflowlocations 07, which are embodied as circular cutouts 07, are arrangedover the entire length of the distributing tube 18. These circularcutouts 07 point or face in a direction toward the dampening ductor 03.By charging the distributing tube 18 with dampening agent 01, thisdampening agent 01 can then exit through the dampening agent inflowlocations 07, so that dampening agent 01 is supplied to the dampeningagent tank 02 substantially over the entire length of the dampeningductor 03. The distal ends of the distributing tube 18 are each closed,so that no dampening agent 01 can flow out of them. In the presentpreferred embodiment, the circular cutouts 07 are spaced at equaldistances from each other and all have the same diameter. The diameterof each of the circular cutouts 07 lies, for example, within a range offrom 1 mm to 5 mm, and is, in particular, 3 mm.

The cross section or area of each of the circular cutouts 07 correspondsto approximately 25% of the diameter of the round tube 18.

The flow path of the dampening agent 01 between the distributing tube ortubes 18 and the dampening ductor 03 is identical over the entire lengthof the dampening ductor 03 because of the parallel orientation of thedampening ductor 03 and the distributing tube or tubes 18. Because theplurality of dampening agent inflow locations 07 are arranged oppositethe dampening ductor 03 over substantially its total length, it ispossible to supply the dampening agent tank 02 uniformly with dampeningagent 01 over substantially the entire length of the dampening ductor03.

Each distributing tube 18 is provided with dampening agent 01 from adampening agent reservoir, which is not specifically represented,through an inflow line 08. As seen in FIG. 1, this inflow line 08 can bea double-walled hollow conductor filled with an insulative foam 10. Toachieve a substantially uniform pressure of the newly supplied dampeningagent 01 arriving at all of the dampening agent inflow locations 07 ofeach distributing tube 18, embodied as a round tube 18, and flowing intothe dampening agent tank 02 to mix with the dampening agent 01 alreadyin tank 02, each inflow line 08 is arranged centered along the length ofits associated distributing tube 18. In contrast to a one-sided inflowof the dampening agent 01 into the distributing tube 18, with the lengthof the distributing tube 18 being the same, the dampening agent 01travels over a substantially shorter flow path before exiting throughthe dampening agent inflow locations 07. Moreover, with the inflow line08 arranged in the center of the distributing tube 18, and with anidentical number of dampening agent inflow locations 07, onlyapproximately half as many of the dampening agent inflow locations 07are arranged in series one behind the other in comparison to theorientation that would exist in a one-sided inflow. Because of thisconfiguration, a considerably reduced pressure difference betweendampening agent inflow locations 07 spaced far apart from each other,and thereby a substantially identical pressure of the outflowingdampening agent, can be achieved at all dampening agent inflow locations07.

In the present preferred embodiment, the dampening agent inflow line 08is embodied in the form of a bent round tube 08, which is either of onepiece construction, or which can consist of several components, whichare, for example screwed together, welded together or hard-soldered. Theconnection between the distributing tube 18 and the inflow line 08 canalso be provided by a screw connection, a welded connection or ahard-soldered connection. The inflow line 08 at the same time takes onthe function of a support for the distributing tube 18, so that aseparate frame for holding the distributing tube 18 in the dampeningagent tank 02 can be omitted. In order not to negatively affect theessential function of the dampening system, which could be the case if,for example, the flow of the dampening agent 01 through the tubes of theinflow line 08 were interfered with, the inflow line 08 runs on the sideof the dampening agent tank 02 adjacent the bottom of the dampeningagent tank 02.

In a further preferred embodiment, which is represented in FIG. 4,several distributing tubes 18 can be assigned to the dampening ductor03. Each one of these several distributing tubes 18 has its own inflowline 08.

At least one inflow line 08 of the distributing tube 18 is arrangedbetween a last opening 07 of a first distal end and a last opening 07 ofa second distal end of the distributing tube 18. The inflow line 08 is,in particular centered along the length of the distributing tube 18. Inthe case of several inflow lines 08 for a single distributing tube 18,these several inflow lines 18 are arranged approximately uniformlydistributed in relation to the longitudinal direction of thedistributing tube 18.

The two last openings 07 of the distal ends of the distributing tube 18are spaced at a distance I01 from each other, as seen in FIG. 2. Afurther distance 102 is defined between the last opening 07 and theinflow line 08.

The following relationship applies: I02=^(I01)/_(N+1′) wherein N is thenumber of inflow lines 08, and I01 is the spacing between the two lastopenings of the distributing tube 18.

For a distance I03 between two inflow lines 08 the following applies:I03≠^(I01)/_(N+1′) wherein N is the number of inflow lines 08, and I01is the spacing between the two last openings of the distributing tube18.

The openings 07 of the distributing tube 18 are arranged below thesurface level of the dampening agent 01 in the dampening agent tank 01,i.e. within the body of the dampening agent 01. The inflow lines 08 arealso arranged, from the side of the dampening agent tank 02 to thecenter of the distributing tube 18, within the dampening agent 01.

The inflow line 08 of each distributing tube 18 is arranged, at least inpart, in the longitudinal direction of the dampening ductor 03 withinthe dampening agent. This may be seen most clearly in FIG. 2 and also inFIG. 4.

The return flow device 06 has a double-walled collecting tank 16.Collecting tank 16 is connected with the dampening agent tank 02 andextends in the longitudinal direction of the dampening ductor or roller03, as is seen in FIG. 1. This longitudinal extension of the collectingtank 16 can also be seen in FIG. 3.

The return flow device 06 is arranged in the dampening agent tank 02opposite to the rear of the dampening ductor 03. In the depictedembodiment, the return flow device 06 consists of two components, namelycutouts 09 which are located in the bottom of the dampening agent tank02 for the return flow of the dampening agent 01 which was carried outof the area of the dampening ductor 03, and a comb-shaped component 12,which has been placed upstream of the cutouts 09. The cutouts 09, whichmay be formed as circles, have a diameter of from 10 mm to 30 mm, and inparticular of 23 mm. The comb-shaped component 12 is oriented parallelwith the longitudinal axis of the dampening ductor 03 and extends overthe entire width of the dampening agent tank 02. In the same way, thedownstream located cutouts 09, formed on the bottom of the dampeningagent tank 02, are also arranged parallel with the longitudinal axis ofthe dampening ductor 03 and extend substantially over the entire lengthof the dampening ductor 03.

The dampening system, in the area of the return flow device 06, isrepresented in FIG. 3, in the cross-sectional direction B and withoutthe dampening ductor 03. The comb-shaped component 12 and the cutouts 09arranged in the bottom of the dampening agent tank 02 can be seen inthis cross-sectional front elevation view. The comb-shaped component 12is mounted on the bottom of the dampening agent tank 02 and is orientedperpendicularly with respect to it. In the present preferred embodiment,the comb-shaped component 12 is embodied in the form of a comb plate 12with tooth-shaped elevations 13. The tooth-shaped elevations 13 eachhave a linear extension of from 100 mm to 300 mm, in particular of 200mm. The elevations 13, in the form of teeth, are formed so thatdampening agent return flow locations 14, which are substantiallyembodied by incisions 14, formed in the top of the comb-shaped plate 12,are open at the top of plate 12 and are extending parallel to eachother, and with rectangular and/or triangular and/or curved bottomtransitions. The incisions 14, as well as the alternating tooth-shapedelevations 13, are located below the liquid level of the dampening agent01 in the dampening agent tank 02. The dampening agent 01 coming fromthe dampening ductor 03 can flow out of the tank 02 over the entirelength of the comb-shaped component 12. However, a sort of across-sectional flow volume increase takes place in the area of eachincision 14, because of which flow volume increase, flowing offdampening agent 01 is conducted out of the area of the dampening ductor03 preferably in the respective areas of the incisions 14. A separatecut-out 09 in the bottom of the dampening agent tank 02 is assigneddownstream of each incision 14 in the comb plate 12, and through whichcut-out 09 the dampening agent 01 is conducted out of the dampeningagent tank 02 into a collecting tank 16. It is assured by this that inthe area of each incision 14, the dampening agent 01 can flow offunhindered. The dampening agent 01 that flows out of the dampening agenttank 02, is returned from the collecting tank 16 to the dampening agentreservoir through one return line 11, as seen in FIG. 2, or through twosuch return lines 11, as seen in FIG. 4. Each such return line 11 isalso a double-walled line with the hollow space being filled withinsulative foam 10, in a manner similar to that which was discussedpreviously in connection with each inflow line 08. The collecting tank16 extends in the longitudinal direction of the dampening ductor 03, asseen in FIG. 3, and extends, in the transverse direction of the tank 02and the ductor 03, at a fraction of the width of the dampening agenttank 02. The collecting tank 16 has double walls defining a space whichis filled with an insulative foam 20, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. Theincisions 14 in the comb plate 12, as well as the cutouts 09 in thebottom of the dampening agent tank 02, are spaced apart from each otherat equal distances and extend over the entire length of the dampeningductor 03. The distance between the tooth-shaped elevations 13 is from 1mm to 20 mm, and in particular is 5 mm. By the arrangement of theincisions 14 in the comb plate 12 and by the respectively arrangeddownstream cutouts 09 in the bottom of the dampening agent tank 02, itis possible to remove dampening agent 01 from the area of the dampeningductor 03 substantially over the entire length of the dampening ductor03.

Analogous to the geometric conditions in the area of the inflow device04, the return flow path of the dampening agent 01 between the dampeningductor 03 and the return flow device 06 is also uniform over the entirelength of the dampening ductor 03. This is because of the parallelarrangement of the dampening ductor 03 and the return flow device 06.Because the dampening agent return flow locations 09, 14 are arrangedopposite each other, over substantially the entire length of thedampening ductor 03, dampening agent 01, coming from the direction ofthe dampening ductor 03, can be removed from the area of the dampeningductor 03 uniformly over the entire length of the dampening ductor 03.

Since the longitudinal axes of the inflow device 04 and of the returnflow device 06 extend substantially parallel with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the dampening ductor 03, and to each other, andbecause the dampening agent inflow locations 07 are arranged on thefront and dampening agent return flow locations 09, 14 are arranged onthe back of, and substantially opposite the dampening ductor 03, andextending over the entire length of the dampening ductor 03, and furtherbecause of the substantially uniform charging with pressure of all ofdampening agent inflow locations 07, it is possible, in a simple way, inaccordance with the present invention, to supply dampening agent 01 tothe dampening ductor 03 over its entire length and to uniformly removedampening agent 01. This means that identical flow conditions prevailfor both inflowing and outflowing dampening agent 01 over the entireroller length, so that a uniform intermixing of freshly supplied,inflowing dampening agent 01, with dampening agent 01 already present inthe dampening agent tank 02 can take place over the entire rollerlength. A uniform exchange of dampening agent 01 is thus assured overthe entire roller length. The uniform, equal exchange of dampening agent01 is additionally aided by setting the direction of rotation 17 of thedampening ductor 03 to be the same as the flow direction of thedampening agent 01, as seen in FIG. 1. Because of the even intermixingof new, inflowing dampening agent with dampening agent 01 alreadypresent in the dampening agent tank 02, the dampening agent 01 picked upby the dampening ductor 03 has identical physical and chemicalproperties over the entire length of the dampening ductor 03. Inaddition, to match the temperature of the new dampening agent suppliedfrom the dampening agent reservoir, temperature measuring devices 22, 23are provided in the area of the dampening agent doctor blade 03 in atleast two locations, as seen in FIG. 1. The temperature measuringdevices 22, 23 are coupled with a control or regulating device 24. Thetemperature of the dampening fluid can be regulated or controlled usingthe control or regulating device 24 in response to the dampening fluidtemperature measured by the temperature measuring devices 22, 23.

In place of the cutouts 09 in the bottom of the dampening agent tank 02,it is also possible to, for example, arrange an additional separatingwall, with cutouts 09, between the dampening agent tank 02 and thecollecting tank 16.

The size of the inflow and of the return flow at the respectivedampening agent inflow locations 07 and at the dampening agent returnflow locations 09, 14 can be adjusted.

While preferred embodiments of dampening systems having a dampeningagent feeding and return device, in accordance with the presentinvention, are set forth fully and completely hereinabove, it will beapparent to one of skill in the art that various changes in, forexample, a drive source for the ductor, the specific constituency of thedampening fluid, and the like could be made without departing from thetrue spirit and scope of the present invention which is accordingly tobe limited only by the following claims.

1. A dampening system comprising: at least one dampening ductor; adampening agent tank adapted to receive dampening agent to be applied tosaid at least one dampening ductor; a dampening agent inflow deviceadapted to supply dampening agent to said tank; a return flow deviceadapted to remove dampening agent from said tank at least first andsecond dampening agent distributing tubes in said inflow device; aplurality of openings in each of said at least first and seconddampening agent distributing tubes, with each said opening tube facingsaid dampening ductor; an inflow line connected to each of said at leastfirst and second dampening agent distributing tubes and; first andsecond spaced tube ends on each of said at least first and seconddampening agent distributing tubes, last ones of said plurality ofopenings in each said dampening agent distributing tube being adjacentsaid first and second spaced tube end of each said dampening agentdistributing tube, said inflow line for each said dampening agentdistributing tube being connected to said tube intermediate said firstand second spaced tube ends.
 2. The dampening system of claim 1 whereineach said inflow line is connected to each said dampening agentdistributing tube approximately centered in respect to a longitudinaldirection of said distributing tube.
 3. The dampening system of claim 1including more than one inflow line connected to each said distributingtube uniformly distributed in respect to a longitudinal direction ofeach said distributing tube.
 4. The dampening system of claim 1 whereinsaid last ones of said openings have of first spacing distance l 01,wherein N is a number of said inflow lines and wherein a second spacingdistance l 02 between said last one of said openings and an adjacent oneof said inflow lines is not equal to ^(l 01)/_(N+1).
 5. The dampeningsystem of claim 1 further including wherein a distance l 03 between twoadjacent one of said spaced inflow lines is equal to a first spacingdistance l 01 between said last ones of said openings divided by anumber of said inflow lines plus I ; l 03 =^(l 01)/_(N+1).
 6. Thedampening system of claim 1 including dampening agent in said dampeningagent tank and wherein said plurality openings are below a surface levelof said dampening agent.
 7. The dampening system of claim 1 furtherwherein said return flow device has a collecting tank connected to saiddampening agent tank and extending in a longitudinal direction of saiddampening ductor, said collecting tank being a double walled tank. 8.The dampening system of claim 7 wherein said dampening ductor isarranged between said inflow device and said return flow device andfurther wherein inflow of dampening agent occurs at several dampeningagent inflow locations and return flow of dampening agent takes place atseveral dampening agent outflow locations of said return flow device. 9.The dampening system of claim 8 wherein said dampening agent outflowlocations are arranged over a length of said dampening ductor.
 10. Thedampening system of claim 8 wherein said several dampening agent outflowlocations of said return flow device are spaced at equal spacingdistances.
 11. The dampening system of claim 7 wherein said dampeningductor has a first longitudinal axis and said return flow device has athird longitudinal axis parallel to said first longitudinal axis. 12.The dampening system of claim 7 including means for adjusting an amountof dampening agent removal at said return flow device.
 13. The dampeningsystem of claim 7 wherein said inflow device is arranged below a levelof a dampening agent in said dampening agent tank.
 14. The dampeningsystem of claim 1 wherein said plurality of openings define a pluralityof dampening agent inflow locations spaced along a length of saiddampening ductor.
 15. The dampening system of claim 1 wherein saidplurality of openings are spaced at equal spacing distances along saidat least first and second distributing tubes.
 16. The dampening systemof claim 1 wherein said dampening ductor has a first longitudinal axisand wherein said inflow device has a second longitudinal axis which isparallel to said first longitudinal axis.
 17. The dampening system ofclaim 1 further including a flow direction of said dampening agent insaid dampening agent tank from said inflow device to said return flowdevice, and wherein said dampening ductor has a direction of rotationthe same as said flow direction.
 18. The dampening system of claim 1including means for adjusting an amount of dampening agent inflow atsaid dampening agent inflow device.
 19. The dampening system of claim 1wherein said inflow device is a separate component of said dampeningagent tank.
 20. The dampening system of claim 1 wherein each said inflowline is attached centered on its respective one of said at least firstand second dampening agent distributing tubes in said inflow device. 21.The dampening system of claim 1 wherein each said inflow line leads outof a side of said dampening agent tank.
 22. The dampening system ofclaim 1 wherein each said inflow line is adapted to support itsrespective one of said at least first and second dampening agentdistributing tubes in said inflow device in said dampening agent tank.23. The dampening system of claim 1 wherein each said inflow line isdouble-walled.
 24. The dampening system of claim 23 further including ahollow chamber between first and second walls of said double-walledinflow line, and insulative foam in said hollow chamber.
 25. Thedampening system of claim 1 wherein each said inflow line is a hollowconductor.
 26. The dampening system of claim 25 wherein each said hollowconductor is a round tube.
 27. The dampening system of claim 26 whereineach said round tube has a diameter of 10 mm to 20 mm.
 28. The dampeningsystem of claim 1 wherein each said opening is a round cutout.
 29. Thedampening system of claim 28 wherein each said round cutout has adiameter from 1 mm to 5 mm.
 30. The dampening system of claim 28 whereineach said round cutout is spaced by 20 mm to 30 mm from each other roundcutout.
 31. The dampening system of claim 1 wherein each said opening isrectangular.
 32. The dampening system of claim 1 wherein said pluralityof said openings are evenly spaced and arranged along each saiddampening agent distributing tube.
 33. The dampening system of claim 1wherein each of said openings has an area and wherein each of said atleast first and second distributing tubes has a diameter, said openingarea for each said opening equals 25% of said distributing tubediameter.
 34. The dampening system of claim 1 wherein said return flowdevice includes at least two cutouts in a bottom of said dampening agenttank and which cutouts extend in a longitudinal direction of saiddampening ductor.
 35. The dampening system of claim 34 wherein saidreturn flow device cutouts are circular.
 36. The dampening system ofclaim 35 wherein each of said circular return flow device cutouts has adiameter of 10 mm to 30 mm.
 37. The dampening system of claim 1 furtherincluding a comb-shaped component in said return flow device and havingtooth-shaped elevations, said comb-shaped component extending parallelwith a longitudinal axis of said dampening ductor and having a lengththe same as said dampening ductor.
 38. The dampening system of claim 37wherein said comb-shaped component is secured to a bottom of saiddampening agent tank with said tooth-shaped elevations pointing upward.39. The dampening system of claim 37 wherein said tooth-shapedelevations are one of rectangular, triangular and curved.
 40. Thedampening system of claim 37 wherein said comb-shaped component is acomb plate.
 41. The dampening system of claim 37 wherein saidtooth-shaped elevations have a longitudinal extension of 100 mm to 300mm.
 42. The dampening system of claim 37 wherein said tooth-shapedelevations are spaced apart by 1 mm to 20 mm.
 43. The dampening systemof claim 1 further including a return flow line in said return flowdevice, said return flow line being double-walled.
 44. The dampeningsystem of claim 43 further including a hollow space between first andsecond spaced walls in said return flow line and insulative foam in saidhollow space.
 45. The dampening system of claim 1 further including atleast first and second temperature measuring devices adapted todetermine a dampening agent temperature adjacent said dampening ductor.46. The dampening system of claim 1 further including dampening agenttemperature regulating means.
 47. The dampening system of claim 1further including a collecting tank in said return flow device, saidcollecting tank being connected with said dampening agent tank.
 48. Thedampening system of claim 47 wherein said collecting tank extends in alongitudinal direction of said dampening agent tank, said collectingtank having a width less than a width of said dampening agent tank. 49.The dampening system of claim 47 wherein said collecting tank isdouble-walled.
 50. The dampening system of claim 49 wherein saidcollecting tank has spaced walls defining a hollow space, said hollowspace receiving insulative foam.
 51. A dampening system comprising: atleast one dampening ductor: a dampening agent tank adapted to receivedampening agent to be applied to said at least one dampening ductor: adampening agent inflow device adapted to supply dampening agent to saidtank; a return flow device adapted to remove dampening agent from saidtank; at least one dampening agent distributing tube in said inflowdevice: a plurality of openings in said at least one distributing tubeand facing said dampening ductor; an inflow line connected to said atleast one distributing tube; and first and second tube ends on said atleast one distributing tube, last ones of said plurality of openingsbeing adjacent each of said first and second tube ends, said inflow linebeing connected to said distributing tube intermediate said lastopenings, said inflow line being at least partially arranged in saiddampening agent in said dampening agent tank and extending in alongitudinal direction of said dampening ductor.
 52. The dampeningsystem of claim 51 wherein said inflow line extends from a side of saiddampening agent tank to a center of said distributing tube.